Well we've trusted Wiki for the bulk of the information on this blog, so we might as well believe that figure. It may not look it, but that car has a GOOD home and the owner is a serious car buff. He thought only 200 of them had been made, and he was quick to report his sadness at the total lack of spare parts for these cars (I'm sure he'd love to replace that front fender). He daily drives an imported oldschool RHD Mini Cooper, and this is his weekend fun car.
Now, you want to hear about something rad-iculous. I used to see a kid in a very unrestored GTV6 like this roaring around Clayton Missouri with Imo's pizza delivery sign on the roof. But he was always driving that thing so hard I could never catch it or get a good look. But when I saw this thing it instantly put the pieces together.
Amazing... a 2.5 liter hemispherical wet sleeve motor with a finned magnesium oil sump; overhead intake valves run off cam shaft and short rocker exhaust valves (not seen since a 1928 racing BMW) ; 5 speed transaxle with a dual disc clutch in deDeon rear suspension with inboard rear brakes; torsion bar front suspension; more magnesium used than any production car ever produced to date; 350 units were slated to be built and unknown lesser number actually produced because Alfa Romeo, then owned by the Italian Government, wanted to produce one last vestige of its glorious racing history; It was rumored that Alfa Romeo lost $12,000 per Balocco Special Edition that year.
Its top speed was over of 140 mph - sustained for an un-determined period time. This was in the era when the Chrysler K-Cars could barely achieve 80 mph. I would be amazed if current sustained speed is over 40 mph in its present condition. That will be a lucky pizza boy who plays with this gem. He is going to need to sell a lot of pizzas to restore this curb side sleeper. RIP.
Those motors had a nitride hardened crankshaft from the factory. The stuff of race car era - When Enzo Ferrari ran the Alfa Romeo racing program for Alfa Romeo. -- I can't belive that is sitting curbside.
Wow! Saw an Alfa Romeo Balocco today (restored?) in exceptional shape today at the Portland Auto Muesuem - Cars in the park. I was lucky enough to be there at 3pm at vehicle departure. You could hear that alfa 60 degree v6 sweet sound depart for 8 city blocks. Is it the same one restored? I have to have one! I must! I am hooked! twitter paited!
we were at Cars In the Park, too, david, but no--not the same balocco.
beautiful cars, beautiful sounds, my God.
car-spotting at car events doesn't really count (if you know what i mean), but i was able to shoot some amazing stuff that maybe won't look like a car show. we'll see if it ends up on opc. were you taking photos?
Wow David, I would love to hear as much of your driving experience as you'd like to share. Also, maybe you can snap a pic or 2 for the OPC Facebook page?
I think I smiled as big as anyone at that cherry Balocco downtown, but there's something really special about original character. Like the panel on the hood showing remnants of an Alfa logo, where the restored one downtown was all shiny black.
Just noticed this has the sweetGTV lip on the hatch.
I own #348 out of 350. I live in the hood where this car is located. It disappeared a couple of months ago. i understand the owner was moving to Asia. I would buy it in a second if i could find it.
I have 3 Baloccos right now, I think I've owned about 8 of them. GTV6's are amazing cars, nothing else gives the performance and thrill for the money!! I'm proud to say I make most of my living restoring and rebuilding them !!
SO ALFA ROMEO RETURNS TO AMERICA? IN 1982 DOLLARS ADJUSTED TO 2014 - THESE CARS WOULD COST $46,556.55 - BUT GIVEN THE LOSS TAKEN BACK IN 1982 ON LIRE DOLLAR CONVERSION AND LOSS AT ALFA FACTORY PRICE IS MORE LIKE $61,300.
PROBABLY JUST ABOUT THE PRICE OF THE NEWEST ALFA THAT WILL SHOW UP ON THESE SHORES.
Best of OPC. 
28 comments:
whoa whoa whoa that figure can't be right. and this thing is just rotting away on someone's curb? holy rad-iculous.
Well we've trusted Wiki for the bulk of the information on this blog, so we might as well believe that figure. It may not look it, but that car has a GOOD home and the owner is a serious car buff. He thought only 200 of them had been made, and he was quick to report his sadness at the total lack of spare parts for these cars (I'm sure he'd love to replace that front fender). He daily drives an imported oldschool RHD Mini Cooper, and this is his weekend fun car.
Now, you want to hear about something rad-iculous. I used to see a kid in a very unrestored GTV6 like this roaring around Clayton Missouri with Imo's pizza delivery sign on the roof. But he was always driving that thing so hard I could never catch it or get a good look. But when I saw this thing it instantly put the pieces together.
'Tis a rare specimen.
Amazing... a 2.5 liter hemispherical wet sleeve motor with a finned magnesium oil sump; overhead intake valves run off cam shaft and short rocker exhaust valves (not seen since a 1928 racing BMW) ; 5 speed transaxle with a dual disc clutch in deDeon rear suspension with inboard rear brakes; torsion bar front suspension; more magnesium used than any production car ever produced to date; 350 units were slated to be built and unknown lesser number actually produced because Alfa Romeo, then owned by the Italian Government, wanted to produce one last vestige of its glorious racing history; It was rumored that Alfa Romeo lost $12,000 per Balocco Special Edition that year.
Its top speed was over of 140 mph - sustained for an un-determined period time. This was in the era when the Chrysler K-Cars could barely achieve 80 mph. I would be amazed if current sustained speed is over 40 mph in its present condition.
That will be a lucky pizza boy who plays with this gem. He is going to need to sell a lot of pizzas to restore this curb side sleeper. RIP.
One of these pasted me heading west on Hwy 26. The motor sounded like ripping silk. It was pure automotive sex.
I know exactly what you mean, the sound of timeless perfection.
Best of 2010.
Those motors had a nitride hardened crankshaft from the factory. The stuff of race car era - When Enzo Ferrari ran the Alfa Romeo racing program for Alfa Romeo. -- I can't belive that is sitting curbside.
Where is this gem located?
Oregon.
Wow! Saw an Alfa Romeo Balocco today (restored?) in exceptional shape today at the Portland Auto Muesuem - Cars in the park. I was lucky enough to be there at 3pm at vehicle departure. You could hear that alfa 60 degree v6 sweet sound depart for 8 city blocks. Is it the same one restored? I have to have one! I must! I am hooked! twitter paited!
we were at Cars In the Park, too, david, but no--not the same balocco.
beautiful cars, beautiful sounds, my God.
car-spotting at car events doesn't really count (if you know what i mean), but i was able to shoot some amazing stuff that maybe won't look like a car show. we'll see if it ends up on opc. were you taking photos?
I snapped a photo or two with camera phone before before power died.
I noticed that recent craig'slist-Portland has an Alfa Romeo listed and I am taking a test drive this weekend.
I hope it works out.
Wow David, I would love to hear as much of your driving experience as you'd like to share. Also, maybe you can snap a pic or 2 for the OPC Facebook page?
I think I smiled as big as anyone at that cherry Balocco downtown, but there's something really special about original character. Like the panel on the hood showing remnants of an Alfa logo, where the restored one downtown was all shiny black.
Just noticed this has the sweetGTV lip on the hatch.
I own #348 out of 350. I live in the hood where this car is located. It disappeared a couple of months ago. i understand the owner was moving to Asia. I would buy it in a second if i could find it.
There is no subsitute for patina!
Wild that Portland, Oregon should see this many alfas. Must be an Alfa Romeo vortex thing.
Regards from Northern Germany
I own No 282/ 350 . The best car I ever own in my collection ( a little bit modified ;-)).
Olaf Bischoff
Was ist die Höchstgeschwindigkeit auf Deutsch autostrada?
I saw one of these on the cover of the newest issue of Hemming's Sport Exotic. Where is this located?
Looks like it was restored and now forsale in Portland, Oregon. $10,000.
http://clients.automanager.com/015606/vehicle-details/2c02c5b7bc9c254ab9f62b7fdbc62258/default.html
I like the photo of the shadow of an alfa sticker left on the sun faded "tea tray" on the hood. That is cool photography.
I have 3 Baloccos right now, I think I've owned about 8 of them. GTV6's are amazing cars, nothing else gives the performance and thrill for the money!! I'm proud to say I make most of my living restoring and rebuilding them !!
SO ALFA ROMEO RETURNS TO AMERICA? IN 1982 DOLLARS ADJUSTED TO 2014 - THESE CARS WOULD COST $46,556.55 - BUT GIVEN THE LOSS TAKEN BACK IN 1982 ON LIRE DOLLAR CONVERSION AND LOSS AT ALFA FACTORY PRICE IS MORE LIKE $61,300.
PROBABLY JUST ABOUT THE PRICE OF THE NEWEST ALFA THAT WILL SHOW UP ON THESE SHORES.
AMAZING STUFF.
found this on Autoweek.
http://autoweek.com/article/classic-cars/alfa-romeo-gtv6-balocco-stays-sharp
http://www.classicitaliancarsforsale.com/?s=balocco
http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/news/a29105/alfa-romeos-gtv-6-could-be-the-best-sounding-v-6-ever-built/
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C474373
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